Un-Subscribed

Near the end of every major sports season, I find myself un-subscribing from the statuses of one Facebook sports-fan friend after another in order to rid my News Feed of the constant sports-related updates and team rivalry and posturing.  This could happen during the Stanley Cup, World Cup, World Series, Super Bowl (or other bowl games), March Madness, or numerous other "big" sporting events.

In advance of un-subscribing from anyone, I generally post a status myself to let them know.  Tonight's post went like this:

Initially, I meant my response to my friend, Richelle, to be funny.  But after posting it, I realized that it was actually more accurate than I had planned.  I do un-subscribe from people from time to time; we all do, and modern technology makes it easier and easier all the time!

You've done it, too.  I promise.

Those emails you don't want to reply to, so you pretend you didn't get them until a few days later.....you know the ones where, if questioned about your failure to send a quick reply, your answer might be "Oh, hmm, must have been a glitch in the email servers or something."  Un-subscribed.

Ever gotten a text message and decided you didn't feel like sending a reply?  Un-subscribed.

What about when the phone rings (some people do still actually talk on phones, right?) and one glance at the caller ID is enough to let you know that you certainly don't want to answer the call.  Do you hit the ignore button and send it straight to voicemail, or do you let it go through the motions of ringing before letting it eventually end up in voicemal?  Either way, you've Un-subscribed.

And when you finally get around to listening to that voicemail, do you pretend that there was a bad signal on the other person's line that made it impossible for you to understand their message and so you couldn't call them back?  C'mon, we've all been guilty.  Un-subscribed.

Ever heard a knock at the door and pretended you weren't home?  Even if it was a friend unexpectedly dropping by for a visit?  Un-subscribed.

Have you turned down an invite to a party or shower from someone you almost never hear from, knowing that they are only inviting you in the first place so that they (or their kid, in some cases) will get more gifts?  Un-subscribed.

Have you discovered that one of the perks of having children is that you have a works-every-time, no-questions-asked excuse to get out of kid-free events any time you want?  (Sometimes this is a blessing, but also sometimes a curse.)  Un-subscribed.

Certainly we've all, at least once, avoided a group or public event -- party, church, playdate, etc. -- because you knew there would be that one certain someone in attendance and you just didn't want to bother with that person.  Un-subscribed.

So, you see, not only are we able to un-subscribe from real people in our lives, but many of us actually do this on a regular basis.  And, if you ask me, it's far more acceptable to un-subscribe from some people than to go start trouble -- especially when it's on a temporary basis.....like during football season.